The racing in St Aubin’s Bay:

There was a cold north easterly wind blowing which started at around 7 knots for the first race. The theme for the day was extremely tight racing over the windward leeward course with places changing regularly with less than a minute separating the boats after an hours racing. In the first race they all got away cleanly at the start but at the end it was David Carter that took the winning gun 13 seconds ahead of Emma Speller.

The wind increased to 15 knots for the second race and required a course adjustment. After numerous place changes Charles Perkins was leading coming in to the finish line to be piped at the post by just 1 second by Laurence Inflatable Water Slide Carter taking the winning gun. The wind decreased to 7 knots for the third race. Shortly after the start Emma Speller tacked to the right of the course and was first at the windward mark a position she held to the end ahead of David Carter in second place.

The racing in St Catherine’s Bay.
The second round of the Island Games Qualifiers took place on Saturday 7th April at St Catherine’s in a light Northerly wind for the two Laser Radial places to represent Jersey in Bermuda. After the first 3 races in St Aubin’s Bay it was all very close between the top 4 places with everything to play for at the half way mark. The courses were windward / leeward being the type of course expected in Bermuda. The racing started and again it was clear the racing was going to be extremely tight with Charles Perkins overtaking Laurence Carter in the closing stages to take the winning gun and reverse the race in St Aubin’s Bay when Laurence Carter just beat Charles Perkins to the line. The course was adjusted for the 5th race to increase the sailing time from a 20 minute race to 30 minutes. In the fifth race at the half way position both Charles Perkins and Laurence Carter were fighting for the lead, however Laurence fell back going up the final beat with Charles taking the winning gun and David Carter second. It was therefore all down to the last race with Charles Perkins in first position overall after 5 races with one discard, 2 points ahead of David Carter and Emma Speller, who had taken 2 third positions in these races, and Laurence Carter a further point behind. This time it was Emma Speller that went into the lead but in the light breeze was continually pressed by the rest of the fleet but held on to take the winning gun and with it first place overall in the series just one point ahead of Charles Perkins who took the second slot with Laurence and David Carter on equal points just one point further behind in third and fourth places respectively.
The next Island Games racing is for the Laser Standard fleet and will take place in St Aubin’s Bay on Saturday 21st April.

1st –  Emma Speller 10Pts
2nd – Charles Perkins 11Pts
3rd Laurence Carter 12pts
4th David Carter 12pts
5th Paul Raimbault 25pts